We have studied the effects of rheological boundaries in the upper mantle on the dynamics of inducing pulsating diapiric plumes. We have compared the effects due to shallower rheological interfaces in the upper mantle on the timescales of the pulsations. Comparing with a basic model with a rheological interface at 670 km depth, we find that timescales between pulsations can be reduced considerably down to a few million years by adding another rheological boundary at 400 km depth. These results suggest that short timescale diapiric flows may be generated from relatively stationary upwellings from the lower mantle because of the presence of rheological boundaries in the shallow upper mantle. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1993